Shoes - Sophie/Gunnar

EXT. ENTRANCE, ACME MEDICAL CENTER --- NIGHT DR. SOPHIE CONRAD is standing in front of the building. The sliding glass doors close behind her. Red hair. Cream-coloured cashmere coat. Christian Louboutin pumps. She is looking out, thinking, scanning the environment while tying the belt of her coat into a knot at her waist. She begins to walk. The word EMERGENCY is lit up brightly in red above her as she departs from the sheltered entrance and veers right to avoid a massive CONSTRUCTION SITE. On the move --- Her steps are brisk. She is calm and in control, in her element. The Academy buildings pass by along her side--- INT. HALLWAY, PORTWOOD HALL --- NIGHT GUNNAR SVENSSON. Tall. Slim. Brown-haired. Yellow shirt with SWEDEN in blue across the chest. Gray windpants. He sneaks out of the building--- EXT. PORTWOOD GARDENS --- NIGHT Gunnar walks into the BUSHES near the gate of the ACME compound, singing - under his breath - BON JOVI’S “YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME”. A gray hooded sweatshirt is draped over his right shoulder. Two YELLOW, spiked TRACK SHOES are strung together over his left shoulder. He places his track shoes on the ground under the bushes - carefully, gently. EXT. PAVEMENT --- NIGHT On the move --- Sophie walks along the path parallel to Portwood Hall. The MOTION-SENSING LIGHTS along the exterior of the residence building are lit up. Then, she STOPS. A SHADOW is moving in the bushes, rustling. Pause. She waits and looks around, slightly apprehensive now, and takes a step towards the disturbed flora. The Shadow EXHALES deeply - audibly - and STANDS UP, pulling on a hooded sweatshirt. Sophie tightens her fists, ready to do something but yet unsure of what --- appraising the figure with a sharp look. The Shadow is Gunnar. He notices Sophie - no, he notices her RED HAIR - and FREEZES. Silence --- and then ---   SOPHIE Who are you?   GUNNAR (stuttering) I - uh - am a student with the Academy. His youth is apparent in the way he forms his words, the manner with which he stands - sheepish in the bushes. She releases a breath and relaxes her fists, but her eyes are still fierce.   SOPHIE What are you doing?   GUNNAR (distressed) I am on walk around the area. She looks at her WATCH - black, digital, with green back-lit digits; incongruent with the rest of her attire - and looks back at Gunnar.   SOPHIE Do you often take walks at two in the morning? Pause. He hesitates and looks off behind her, visibly uncomfortable.   GUNNAR Sometimes. Silence. She is deciding what to do, trying to remember if Academy boarders have a curfew or the like and remembers instead, with a hidden smile, her own attempts at breaking curfew while at boarding school. Pause. He continues to stand in the bushes like a deer caught in a head-light’s glare. She offers him a hand.   SOPHIE I am Doctor Sophie Conrad. He steps forward and shakes her hand --- nervous.   GUNNAR I am Gunnar Svensson.   SOPHIE Come out of the dark, Gunnar Svensson. She pronounces his name correctly, with formality. He submits, unease apparent.   SOPHIE (lighter) Don't be afraid. Have you only just arrived at ACME San Francisco?   GUNNAR (shrugs, thoughtful) I have been here since three months, I think. She smiles --- a small expression.   SOPHIE Welcome to ACME San Francisco. Do you only walk about in the bushes?   GUNNAR In the --- (pauses) - Nej. My shoes are there. She looks at his feet --- SILVER-WHITE TRAINERS, BLUE LACES. He looks at his feet. She looks back at him.   GUNNAR It is my running spikes in the bushes, I mean.   SOPHIE Do you not have space in your room for your shoes?   GUNNAR I brought them out, but I want not to wear them yet. (motions towards the pavement) I must wear them on a different surface.   SOPHIE That doesn’t explain why you put them in the bushes.   GUNNAR (avoids eye contact) No one would look there if they caught me out tonight. I could explain something reasonable, ja? Silence. She looks at him again. Piercing. Thinking.   SOPHIE Take your shoes. Come walk with me. He wades - slowly - back into the bushes and retrieves his yellow track shoes. He returns with them strung over his shoulder and they walk--- EXT. ACME HEADQUARTERS --- NIGHT On the move --- GUNNAR and SOPHIE are walking. She glances at his shoes - BOTH pairs of his shoes.   SOPHIE Where do your walks take you?   GUNNAR For truth, I do not 'walk', usually.   SOPHIE (smiles) I’ve noticed. He rolls his shoulders.   GUNNAR But, I often go until the Frederick Street. Pause.   SOPHIE (thoughtfully) How long have you been with ACME?   GUNNAR I have worked with ACME in... six months, by now - (hesitates) - I am transferred from Stockholm. She OPENS a side-gate and allows him to pass. They both step out into--- EXT. 3RD STREET --- NIGHT As they walk along the pavement, he scans her features.   GUNNAR I have not seen you before. Why are you outside at this time, also?   SOPHIE I am on my way home. My car - (gestures vaguely) - is parked two streets down. The shortage of parking spaces on the ACME compound has been the norm for months now.   GUNNAR It is a late time to be walking so far.   SOPHIE It is a late time to be running so far.   GUNNAR (smirks) Probably. But I have no other way.   SOPHIE No other way?   GUNNAR I cannot run in the day - I have class. I cannot run in the evening - (pause) - So, I run at night.   SOPHIE You love running.   GUNNAR Ah, not so much love for running. I like running. I love racing. Achievement.   SOPHIE Racing?   GUNNAR I raced in Sweden. Friidrott - track and field.   SOPHIE (smiles) I see. Silence. She looks up and down the street.   SOPHIE If you love racing, why did you leave that and come here?   GUNNAR I needed a job. Running - (chuckle) - It does not pay much at my, ah, status. They drew me in further than I wished, yet. I can catch no time. He sighs. EXT. STREET --- NIGHT On the move --- GUNNAR and SOPHIE continue to walk, side-by-side. A LITTLE RED CAR. A MINI Cooper S. Hers. She walks purposefully towards it, unlocking it remotely. Its hazard-warning lights BLINK once, silent.   SOPHIE You shouldn't be running so late. It is not safe. Would you like a ride back to the compound? He shakes his head.   GUNNAR I was just in the compound. I would not have left if I wanted to go back so quick. He chuckles. She smiles.   SOPHIE Yes, of course. She looks at him, deciding. She cannot possibly leave him alone here. She reaches into her bag, retrieves a NAME CARD with the insignia of the ACME MEDICAL CENTER and a blue-coloured ballpoint pen, and scribbles a row of numbers onto it.   SOPHIE I know how it is to be newly in a foreign land. She hands Gunnar the name card and he timidly accepts.   GUNNAR It’s fun, yeah? He glances at the name card.   SOPHIE If you ever need assistance, you can reach me at any of those numbers...   GUNNAR (nodding) So I can break out again? No. I would not bother you. Sophie smiles. She has heard this before. She waves a goodbye.   SOPHIE Have a safe run, Gunnar Svensson. Good night! Gunnar waves - awkward.   GUNNAR Good night, Doctor. INT. SOPHIE’S CAR --- NIGHT Sophie starts the engine of her car. She rests her hands on the top of the steering wheel and watches GUNNAR jog down the street and disappear around the bend. * * * * *   Co-written by the authors of Gunnar Svensson and Sophie Conrad. Thank you, Sven.